Fan Zone 01/05/2025

FAN ZONE

TUST's Chair and TUFC board member, Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.

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THE TITLE MIGHT BE TRURO’S BUT WE’VE GOT OUR CLUB BACK

WHAT A DAY TO REMEMBER FOR OVER 2,000 AT HEMEL

NOW IT’S ANOTHER FULL PLAINMOOR AS UNITED TAKE ON BOREHAM WOOD IN A ONE GAME SHOOT-OUT

On a balcony on the second storey of a portacabin in the corner of the Hemel Hempstead Focus Community Arena, right next to the majority of the fantastic away support as the Yellow Army filed away to the lone exit came the poignant song, ‘We’ve Got Our Club Back’.

Despite the obvious disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion by a matter of three more goals over a 46 game season, all Torquay fans could sing about was ‘We’ve Got Our Club Back’.

And the six Bryn guys - Michael Westcott, Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, Simon Robinson, Tom Allen, Matt Corby and Rob Hawes - all stood and applauded every single fan as they passed below. It was a very moving moment which underlined the bond that has developed between the custodians of the football club and supporters.

That in a crowd of 2,962, when Hemel’s average attendance this season is around 800, over 2,000 were the Yellow Army speaks volumes.

*****

The build up to Saturday seemed to take an eternity and from those we spoke to, many had had a restless night and an early start, partly to ensure a parking space in or near the ground.

To their credit Hemel had gone to town to ensure that all Torquay fans were well looked after, even the Hemel chairman, David Boggins, was on hand to greet us by the entrance and he was directing traffic.

The club had set aside a special room just for away fans with its own bar or you could walk a little way to one of the chairman’s pubs, The Crabtree, but the queues were taking up to half an hour to just get to the bar.

Without giving away too many secrets, usually there is only a maximum of ten visiting directors given hospitality by the home sides but on this occasion there were as many as 30+ of us which Hemel said was absolutely fine, providing a two course cooked lunch.

*****

As to the match we all knew it was going to be an afternoon of mixed emotions with all eyes on Torquay attacking non-stop while at the same time keeping check on events in Cornwall.

In the end the destination of the title was decided inside the first ten minutes.

A medical emergency in the away end meant a delayed start with the Hemel and Torquay players staying on the pitch. When the game finally got under way Truro were already 2-0 ahead and all around was disbelief that St Albans desperate to avoid relegation had caved in so early. Worse was to follow as news spread that Truro had a third.

Standing on that balcony at that moment felt like the yellow and blue balloons that had been floating around all burst at the same time.

*****

A 2-0 half-time lead which oh so easily could have been more gave hope especially when St Albans scored twice - could it be possible to better Truro’s goal difference? And despite a splendid Cody Cooke hat-trick, going home with the match ball for his rabbits, a fifth Truro goal saw them promoted.

Cooke’s hat-trick was the first since April 2023 when Aaron Jarvis scored three.

Whilst our Cornish neighbours, and congratulations to them, contemplate journeys next season like 880+ miles round trips over 14 hours to places like Carlisle, United are preparing for a home Play Off Semi-Final on Saturday.

*****

From 3-1 down, playing against the ten men of Dorking Wanderers, Saturday’s Play-Off Semi-Finalists are Boreham Wood who amazingly scored three inside the last 10 minutes to edge the game 4-3.

Wood defender Femi Ilesanmi had the dubious record of a hat-trick by scoring two own goals and then the 96th winner!

Torquay go into this in good form, Saturday’s win at Hemel was, by the way, the club’s sixth consecutive away win, a record last achieved in 1927.

There’s going to be another big Plainmoor crowd close to the current capacity of around 5,800.

Playing this game at home should be an advantage along with the benefit of a week’s rest, maybe Jordan Dyer could be in consideration.

For those unable to get to Plainmoor some media outlets were saying the game will be live on DAZN and this is correct as Article 48, which normally stops 3pm Saturday games being shown live, ran out for this season after last Saturday.

*****

Whilst Nationals North - congratulations to Brackley Town - and South seasons are over there are the final fixtures in the National League on Bank Holiday Monday to decide who will join Ebbsfleet in the South. With Maidenhead, Wealdstone and Dagenham all contenders it could be that a current South team could be moved into the North. On Saturday there was talk that Hemel could be chosen.

*****

Non-League Crowd Watch: Southend 9,677, York 6,249, Barnet (promoted back into the EFL) 4,990, Hereford 4,733, Macclesfield 4,725, Truro 3,597.

*****

Torquay United Women kept their title hopes alive on Sunday with a ninth consecutive win, when a Tee Kaptein first half penalty gave them all three points over visitors Forest Green Women.

This run sets up a title showdown against current leaders MAP, five points ahead, at Manadon on Sunday. United have two games in hand so this is a crucial fixture.

Meanwhile Exeter Women against Watford at St James Park drew a record 3,179.

So, Saturday is another big game in the history of Torquay United, potentially two games from a return to the top of non-league football.

COYY

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